Scott Morrison

Just weeks after levelling fierce criticism at Scott Morrison, Mr Bainimarama also played down the differences between the two leaders.

AAP reports the two prime ministers signed the Fiji-Australia Vuvale Partnership, aimed at strengthening security and economic ties.

The Fiji leader recently accused Australia of being insulting over negotiations about climate change at the Pacific Islands Forum. He even told media that he had been mistaken in his earlier belief that Mr Morrison was his friend.

In 2006, he was Tourism Australia's inaugural managing director, but it wasn't Mr Morrison's first experience at crafting catchy, cut-through slogans - a skill he would later use to great effect during his rapid rise in federal politics.

Years earlier, he'd been involved in the highly acclaimed "100% Pure New Zealand" campaign after being recruited to set up that country's Office of Tourism and Sport.

With a year remaining on his contract he returned to Sydney in early 2000 to take up the job of state director of the NSW Liberal Party.